A Royal Marine from Blackburn has been killed in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence confirmed tonight.

Marine David Fairbrother, of Kilo Company, 42 Commando Royal Marines, was shot dead after his ambushed patrol came under close range fire in Helmand province.

At 3am on Monday, UK time, David and his Kilo Company colleagues were providing support to an Afghan National Army patrol in the Khorgajat area of the Nahr-e Saraj District of Helmand province, when they were ambushed and he was shot.

Despite the best efforts of the medics on the ground and being airlifted for treatment, he was pronounced dead on arrival at Camp Bastion Role 3 Hospital.

The 24-year-old joined the Royal Marines in November 2009 and was a qualified Team Medic with Kilo Company, The Black Knights.

His death takes the number of British military staff who have died as a result of operations in Afghanistan since 2001 to 382.